TWO brothers who scaled three of Great Britain's highest peaks have raised more than £3,000 for deaf children in Swindon.

But Adrian and John Cooper's charity challenge was almost over before it began.

The pair, who both live in Park North, left in the middle of September's fuel crisis and were forced to return to Swindon the next day because their petrol tank was empty.

They were eventually able to set off again three days later to complete the sponsored event but had to climb the mountains in reverse order starting with the highest, Ben Nevis, which is 4,406ft.

Their Three Peaks challenge took them from Land's End to John O'Groats and up Mount Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis. They travelled by Land Rover and stayed in bed and breakfast accommodation along the way.

Adrian, 44, who works for BMW in Bracknell, Berkshire, said the initial complications made the sense of euphoria at finishing the challenge even greater.

"We got to Land's End on September 12 to begin our journey north and realised most of the petrol stations were closing very quickly.

"We got as far as Bristol and realised we had enough fuel to get us to the next town or back to Swindon so we had to go home," he said.

"We were panicking because we had booked the bed and breakfasts in the north and had to get up there.

"But we made it at last and it was an amazing feeling when we got to the top of Snowdon at the end."

John, a 38-year-old painter and decorator, is hard of hearing and this motivated the brothers to do something for a charity for the deaf.

But he said the challenge was more hard work than they could have imagined.

"We didn't envisage doing the highest mountain first and after that one I didn't want to know! "But Adrian spurred me one and we just kept thinking what we were doing it for," he said. "At least after climbing Ben Nevis the other peaks seemed a lot easier."

The money a total of £3,498.75 has now been presented to the Swindon and North Wiltshire branch of the National Deaf Child-ren's Society which supports hearing impaired youngsters and their families.

Secretary Jane Voller said it will be used to buy equipment and pay for outings.

"What Adrian and John have achieved is brilliant.

"We rely very heavily on donations and sponsorship and this money is very useful," she said.